By Bob Hertzel
MORGANTOWN — There is very little that is subtle about Mike Carey, the West Virginia University women’s basketball coach.
He lives his life as he wants his team to play the game, straight forward.
And he wasn’t leaving any doubt on Tuesday that the pain from losing a game at Notre Dame had not subsided at all.
“Someone has to pay for a loss and Seton Hall happens to be our next game,” he said. “We have to make a statement the next two games at home to show we’re for real.”
Of course, anything can happen in sports but Carey’s No. 11/16 Mountaineers, now 18-2 on the season, are facing a team that is 8-12 and 0-7 in the Big East, the proverbial knife-wielder in a gun fight.
Even before his team held its Tuesday practice for Wednesday night’s 7 p.m. game at the Coliseum the word had been spread.
“We want to take it out on Seton Hall,” said forward Korinne Campbell.
Seton Hall has eight straight losses, including a 91-24 embarrassment at the hands of Connecticut.
This could be as bad because this is an angry group of Mountaineer women after what transpired in South Bend, Ind.
After the game, Carey could not state exactly how he felt because of league rules against criticizing the officials, so he danced around it.
“We committed 22 fouls, they committed 13. We had two players foul out. They didn’t have any in foul trouble. We couldn’t play defense in the second half because of the fouls,” Carey told a reporter.
“Are you saying the refs beat you?” the reporter said.
“We committed 22 fouls, they committed 13. We had two players foul out. They didn’t have any in foul trouble. We couldn’t play defense in the second half because of the fouls,” Carey repeated.
“Are you saying the refs beat you?” the reporter repeated.
“Read between the lines,” Carey snapped.
Carey does not deny that Notre Dame is a good team, ranked No. 3 now.
“They’re a great team. They’re No. 3 for a reason,” he said.
But he had something to add to that, knowing his team was up 12 at the half despite the fouls and despite Medina Ali limping around on a high ankle sprain.
“We can play with them,” he said.
And then he went further.
“I’d like to get them again on different court,” he said.
He may get his chance in the Big East Tournament at Connecticut.
As it was, despite losing 74-66, he believes his team played well.
Liz Repella came out of her slump and scored 14 points and Sarah Miles had nine assists, although eight turnovers hurt that.
The Ali ankle sprain was as much a detriment as the officiating.
“That hurt us. I used her 12 minutes and I probably shouldn’t have used her at all. She couldn’t get up and down the court. God love her, she tried,” Carey said.
The result was that with Ali limited and Aysa Bussie in foul trouble, Notre Dame pounded it inside and just beat WVU to death.
But that now is history and the Mountaineers have to turn things around, playing Seton Hall and Louisville at home before going out and measuring themselves against Connecticut on the undefeated Huskies home floor on Feb. 2.
E-mail Bob Hertzel at bhertzel@hotmail.com.
